Russian Military in Syria

In September 2015 Russian military forces intervened in Syria initially as part of a limited campaign against so-called Islamic State terrorists. This campaign turned into more substantive military support to Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad in his deadly fight with opposition groups, killing thousands of civilians in rebel-held areas. Operations came to an end with Assad’s fall in December 2024.

Airwars documented thousands of allegations of civilian harm from Russian strikes in Syria and produced research and reports on the conflict.

Airwars estimate of civilian deaths

4,431 – 6,522

Locally reported civilian deaths from declared or likely Russian Military actions in Syria for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by the Russian Military. These originate from 4,977 separate alleged incidents.

1,174 – 1,440
children likely killed
647 – 782
women likely killed
6,672
likely injured
3,500
named victims

Russian Military estimate of civilian deaths

0

Confirmed civilian deaths, from Russian Military actions in Syria, originating from 0 separate incidents of civilian harm.

civilians confirmed injured
Alleged deaths
15,841 – 25,260
Locally reported civilian deaths from Russian Military actions in Syria.
4,977 seperate alleged incidents
Confirmed or Fair
4,431 – 6,522
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Fair, or have been Confirmed by Russian Military
1,380 seperate alleged incidents
Weak
739 – 861
Civilian deaths for which the reporting was assessed by Airwars as Weak.
466 seperate alleged incidents
Contested
10,557 – 17,748
Civilian deaths for which the reporting is assessed by Airwars as Contested.
3,115 seperate alleged incidents
Discounted
114 – 129
Civilian deaths were Discounted by Airwars after assessment.
16 seperate alleged incidents
4942 incidents
Order results by:
Incident Date Publication Date

Incident Date

10 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4784

Location

كفرعمة, Kafer Amme, Aleppo, Syria
On Monday, July 10th 2023, an alleged artillery shelling by Syrian regime forces and Russian armed forces hit the village of Kafarama (or Kafr Amma), west of Aleppo, northwest Syria, injuring one civilian. Sources including @SyriaCivilDefe, @HalabTodayTV twitter accounts, and Orient News reported one civilian, a woman, being injured by the airstrike on the village.…

Summary

Published
10 July 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

10 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4783

Location

الأتارب, Al Atareb, Aleppo, Syria
On July 10th 2022, Syrian regime and/or Russian forces reportedly shelled the village of Al Atareb in western countryside of Aleppo, resulting in the injury of one elderly woman. Local sources including @SyriaCivilDefe and Baladi News stated that an elderly woman had been injured on the outskirts of Atarib, coinciding with an intense flight of…

Summary

Published
10 July 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Infrastructure
Agriculture
Civilians reported injured
1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9–10 July, 2023

Incident Code

RS4781

Location

جسر الشغور, Jisr Al Shughour, Idlib, Syria
Around midnight between Sunday July 9th and Monday July 10th 2023, the residential neighborhood of Jisr al-Shughour in west Idlib was reportedly shelled by Syrian regime and/or Russian forces, resulting in the injury of two civilians, father and his daughter. It is unclear if the female victim is a child or an adult woman. Adel…

Summary

Published
9 July 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

9 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4782

Location

البارة, Al Bara, Idlib, Syria
On the morning of July 9, 2023, the town of Al Bara, Syria, was reportedly hit with shelling directed by Russian and/or Syrian government forces. As a result of this, three children were reported wounded, with one, a seven year old boy, subsequently dying due to his injuries. According to local sources, multiple civilian homes…

Summary

Published
9 July 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
1
Civilians reported injured
2
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4778

Location

دارة عزة, Darat Izza, Aleppo, Syria
Between four and five civilians, including four children, were injured by alleged Syrian regime or Russian shelling of Darat Izza on July 4, 2023. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that four children were injured to varying degrees by regime shelling, coinciding with the flight of Russian reconnaissance aircraft, on the outskirts of the…

Summary

Published
4 July 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported injured
4–5
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident

Incident Date

4 July 2023

Incident Code

RS4780

Location

كفرنوران, Kafarnouran, Idlib, Syria
A middle-aged male, reported by most sources to be a civilian, was killed by alleged Russian, or Syrian regime shelling of the town of Kafr Nouran, in the western countryside of Aleppo on July 4, 2023. Baladi News reported that Anas Barakat was killed instantly in the village of Kafr Nouran as a result of…

Summary

Published
4 July 2023
Strike Type
Artillery
Civilians reported killed
0–1
Military actors reported killed
0–1
Causes of Death / Injury
Heavy weapons and explosive munitions
Military Actor
Russian Military
View Incident